35 Educational Online Resources to Inspire Inquiry and Thinking

This simply has to be good thing and worth checking out, even if you find just one thing. Start clicking.

Blogs from Children's Books that are Worth Remembering

This is a great post reminding us of the gentle wisdom in children's literature. It is worth checking out.

Using the Learning Pit with Children

Love this illustrative video about using the learning pit with children to challenge deeper thinking and understanding of concepts.

The Learning Challenge with James Nottingham from Challenging Learning on Vimeo.
1. Surface level knowledge, demonstrating a grasp of the facts.
2. Questioning to develop deeper thinking (at the bottom of the pit).
3. Deep understanding and application

We are wanting to encourage thinkers and create knowledge that comes from discovering and finding answers. Eureka!

Fits nicely with feeling comfortable with struggle and using a growth mindset.

21st Century Learning

I have been reading a lot recently about learning in the future and how this might look and be a little different to how we currently practice. This article reaffirms that New Zealand classes are well along the track to making changes towards learning for the 21st Century. It does however, bring up a few aspects that are worth considering that are focussed on teaching rather than classroom space.

More Mindsets

More thinking about 21st Century Teaching

I love the suggestions that this post offers about teaching children reared as a google generation. A few years ago Ewan McIntosh from No Tosh, was talking about the non-googleable question and here it is again. This article is full of ways to encourage our children (and teachers) to really become learners.

Handwriting - Resources for staff

Teaching Handwriting

The teaching of handwriting is has been the subject of many discussions.

• How often should it be taught? 
• How should it be taught? 
• What is important about the teaching of handwriting? 
• What is the purpose of teaching handwriting?

For many years we have been offered good voice recognition software. Many hours are needed to perfect touch typing, far more than what can be provided with the time and resources have at school.

Here are some links to interesting and informative readings and blog post to help us consider this.

• A debate tool providing arguments both for and against the teaching of handwriting. 
• A blogpost from a NZ teacher providing a wealth of tools and information about the teaching of handwriting.
• An article from the Guardian asking, "Is the Pen Mightier Than the Sword?" 
• An article from the NY Times asking "What's Lost as Handwriting Fades?"
• Business Insider, 'Here's why writing things out by hand makes you smarter"
• It is also worth looking in Twitter and Pinterest for ideas on teaching handwriting.

Touch typing tools

The flip side of teaching handwriting is ensuring that we are equipping our children to live in a digital world. Can we provide links in our blogs to touch typing tools that children can use at home as part of their home learning?

• BBC Dance Mat Typing
• Typing Club
• Keyboarding Games for Kids

Voice Activation Software

Voice activation software is great for children with a learning disability, giving them the space they need to get their thoughts and ideas down quickly. Smart phones have voice capability that allow users to dictate messages, emails and texts.